Using Triads in Fiction

Thinking in triads is something I learned from studying music, martial arts, and just observing myself and life in general. How do triads apply to fiction?

They add depth… If you only write about a character’s inner life it can get boring. If you only write about a character’s actions without any thought to the character’s emotions or motivations, they end up looking like (and being) puppets.

Triads create more conflict (which reveals character and develops more story)…

Put two people in a room and they can have a conversation or argument. Put three people (even if one of them is only in a character’s thoughts) in a room and the dynamic is going to change and open up possibilities.

Your character has their past, present and future to think about, agonize over, and rejoice in. And they deal with those things in snippets as the story moves forward. Their past is solid and unmovable, but their present and future are constantly shifting, and there is a lot of interesting, active emotions and actions that can rise from moment to moment. Keep that in mind when brainstorming before you write the story.

Your character has friends, family, and acquaintances. It pays to mention who he loves and who he can’t stand, and most of all… why.

Your character is usually using three senses at the same time in different combinations depending what the setting is (sight, sound, touch/sight, smell, hearing/smell, hearing, touch, etc.)

Your character has had, has, and wants.

Your character has loves, hates, and things he’s lukewarm about.

Your character has their experience, their perceptions and their hunches.

Your character has action, reaction, and introspection.

Now take those triads and put them to work for two or three main characters in your novel and I’ll lay down my hard-earned money that you’ll end up with a very rich and entertaining book.

Plus go check out my FREE serial novel on my publisher’s website. You can see how I use triads throughout the whole novel, in every chapter, in every scene. Then go spread the word about the serial novel because word of mouth helps and I’m a shitty self-promoter.